
BRUSSELS – The European Commission (EC) has urged EU member states and candidate countries to avoid attending Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations, viewing them as a component of Russian propaganda aimed at legitimizing the invasion of Ukraine, a spokesperson announced on Thursday.
“We regard the celebration on May 9 as a means of Russian propaganda and an effort to justify its military actions in Ukraine. Thus, we believe it is important to refrain from legitimizing this conflict by attending the event,” said EC spokesperson Paula Pinho during a press conference.
Pinho emphasized that this recommendation applies particularly to EU member states, which reached a consensus on this position in 2022, and also to candidate countries.
Despite this call, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have declared their intention to attend the celebrations in Moscow.
Enlargement spokesperson Guillaume Mercier remarked that Serbia needs to clarify its strategic direction. “The European Union has made it clear to our partners, including candidate nations like Serbia, that normal relations with Russia are not acceptable,” Mercier stated.
When inquired about potential repercussions for Serbia, he noted that it is premature to make any predictions at this stage. (April 24, 2025)













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